Spacing apparatus



May 2, 1939- H. J. CRINER 2,156,563

SPAGlNG APPARATUS Filed NOV. 14, 1938 gg-f fig-f fi 6 fv/147% @m 414/] INVENTOR Erg-f `m-JO l ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 2, 1939 UNiE STATES sPAoING APPARATUS Harry J. C'riner, Davenport, Iowa, assignor of one-half to A. G. Bush, Davenport, Iowa Application November 14, 1938, Serial No. 240,238

20 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in spacing apparatus and while applicable to mechanical movements generally, is particularly applicable to apparatus for uniformly varying the spac- 15 ing of a plurality of parts mounted in series.

The objects of my invention are to provide a simple, strong and compact form of apparatus for simultaneously and uniformly varying the spacing of a plurality of parts mounted in series and movable longitudinally of the series; to provide such apparatus in a form which will occupy a relatively narrow compass and permit the adjustment of small, closely spaced parts; to provide an apparatus of the kind described which will be applicable to bread slicing machines and which will permit of application of a single series oi' spacing devices to all of the slicing courses of the blades of a band-blade machine.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,--

Figure 1 is a rear elevation showing a part of the supporting frame of a slicing machine, with a reciprocating blade-carrying frame slidingly mounted therein;

Figure 2 shows a sectional elevation on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged sectional detail of the upper frame member and its contents, on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the upper member on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail end view of one of the rotatable sleeves;

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the rotatable sleeves;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail showing one of the spacing rings and blade-supporting and guiding fingers;

Figure 8 is a vertical section of one of the spacing rings on the line 8-8 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a detail showing my apparatus applied to the crossed blades of a band-blade saw;

and

Figurev 10 is a fractional rear elevation of my apparatus when so applied.

' My apparatus comprises av rectangular frame `having cylindrical top and bottom members l and 2 and side rods 3 and 3', the side rods being slidably mounted in brackets 6 united to the supporting frame 4 4. The top, bottom and side members of the reciprocating frame are preferably cast integral, the top and bottom tubular members being for-med with longitudinal slots at the iront thereof,l referring to the right side of (Cl. 14S- 153) Figure 2 as the front and to the left side of Figurev 2 as the rear.

The upper member consists of a hollow tube or cylinder I having slidably mounted therein a plurality of spacing rings 'i each of which is pro- 5 vided with a linger ill which projects outwardly through the wide slots formed in the front of the tube l. The outer end of each inger IG is slotted ill and has a recess Il formed therein adapted to receive a pivot pin lla which passes 10 through the upper end of the blade I3.

When my apparatus is intended for use in slic-I ing machines, the spacing rings are preferably made approximately three-eighths of an inch in thickness and portions of the inner surface of the 15 rings are then threaded with threads running in the same direction but with one set of threads being made very line and the other set of threads being relatively coarse.

For illustration, but without limiting my invention thereto, the fine threads may be of a pitch allowing forty threads per inch and the coarse threads of a pitch allowing eight or ten threads per inch, the lne threads being in the same relative ends of all of the rings, and the coarse threads extending approximately from the ne threads to the opposite ends of the spacing rings.

Sleeves 8 are formed with interior axial bores or openings l2 of rectangular or other suitable shape to secure them upon rods l2 of correspond- 30 ing shape. The rods l2 and the interior openings l2 in the sleeves 8 are so formed that the sleeves may slide freely lengthwise of the rods l2 but cannot revolve thereon.

It is obvious that various angular forms of rods may be used or a round rod may be used having splines or slots adapted to prevent rotation of the sleeves 8 upon the rods l2.

Each sleeve 8 has a portion of its periphery formed with coarse threads 9b extending over a 40 part of its length at one end and with ne threads 9a formed upon a part of its periphery as the other end, and with a smooth neck S between them. These threaded sections may be variously proportioned, but for spacing members as small as three-eighths of an inch in width, I prefer to have the ne threads extend over about one-sixteenth of an inch along the length of the sleeve at one end andthe coarse threads extend over about one-eighth of an inch at the opposite end of the sleeve, having an intervening unthreaded neck between them.

The fine threads preferably extend along the inner periphery of the supporting rings a little less than one-eighth of an inch and the coarse Elo van inch of line threads and one-eighth of an inch of coarse `ring threads intermeshing with the threads'at the ends of the sleeves. When so proportioned the sleeves will have a rm hold on the rings.

In assembling my apparatus the fine-threaded "end of each sleeve is screwed into the finethreaded end of its adjacent spacing ring and thecoarse-threadedend of each sleeve is screwed into the coarse-threaded end of the next adjoining ring.

After the sleeves and rings are screwed together 'as close as their form will permit, the rods I2 are inserted in the bores I2 and both series are slid into their respective tubular members I and 2 and the innermost ring of each series is rigidly secured in its place in the tubular members by a set screw, bolt or other suitable means.

The outer ends of the rods I2 may readily be rotated manually by use of a wrench or other suitable tool.

'Ihe blades may then be inserted in the fingers and secured by pivot pins or any suitable means, or in endless-band machines, the blades will be straddled by the slots in the fingers.

When it is desired to expand the spacing of the rings the rods I2 are rotated carrying with them the sleeves and as the supporting rings are secured against rotation by their shoulders extending into the slots of the tubular members, the rotation of the coarse threads on the sleeves acts to force the sleeves and rings apart. At the same time the fine threads act to carry the nethreaded ends of the sleeve farther into the rings so that the total spreading movement of any two successive rings will be the length of travel produced by the coarse threads less the travel produced by the fine threads.

Thus, with forty threads to the inch for the ne threads and ten to the inch for the coarse, the spreading movement will equal three-fourths of the longitudinal movement of a given sleeve relative to the ring in which its coarse threads are engaged.

When desired, the sleeves 8 and rings 'I may be prevented from becoming separated or detached from each other by split washers I3 having slits I4 extending from their outer to their inner peripheries, being mounted upon the necks 9 of the sleeves 8 adjacent the threads at each end thereof respectively and such washers I3 may be united to the outer ends of the spacing rings 'l by spot-welding I5 as shown in Figure 8 or by any other suitable means. When so attached, the washers will form detents to prevent unscrewing the sleeves from the Washers, or other forms of detents may be utilized as desired, such as small pins or set screws inserted in the rings 'I and extending into the open space formed by the neck 9.

Applicant is aware that space adjusters such as Walma, No. 2,098,816, have heretofore been made having spacing rings and sleeves. But Walmas rings and sleeves have threads of uniform size but pitched in opposite directions. This makes it a difficult matter to manufacture and to assemble such rings and sleeves because one-half of each sleeve and one-half of each ring must be threaded in opposite directions and it is very difficult 'to machine "suc'h threads accurately 'to the middle line without running past the middle line and jamming the threads beyond it.

Again such construction does not permit .the rings to be made narrow enough :so successive rings can be used to space successive Lblades when spaced at three-eighths of an inch apart without reducing the contactinglthreaded Vareas too much to allow the rm connections necessary in such apparatus'.

In my construction the threads on the sleeves are separated by a definite space as shown in Figure 8, which permits machine threading of the sleeves by automatic machines. My form of spacer is readily applied so that a single series of spacers may be applied to all the cutting courses of all the blades of a band-blade machine.

Various modications may be made in the form and proportions of the parts without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not limit my claims to the precise forms or proportions illustrated in the drawing.

I claim:

1. In a bread slicing machine, a rectangular blade-carrying frame having tubular upper and lower cross-members and having longitudinal slots formed therein united by sidebars, a plurality of supporting rings slidably mounted in said cross-members respectively in series, the innermost ring of each series being rigidly united to its cross-member, each of said rings having formed integral therewith an arm, which arms project through the corresponding slots, each of said rings having its internal periphery threaded for a portion of its length at one end with fine threads and the remainder of its internal periphery threaded with relatively coarse threads running in the same direction as the ne threads, a corresponding plurality of sleeves each having a section of its periphery at one end threaded with fine threads corresponding with the ne threads of the rings and a section of its periphery at the opposite end threaded with coarse threads corresponding to the coarse threads of the rings, each of said sleeves having its ne threads threaded into an adjacent ring and its coarse threads threaded into the coarse threads of the next succeeding ring, uniform non-circular bores formed in all of the sleeves, a rod corresponding in section to said bores slidably mounted in all the bores of the lower series of sleeves and a similar rod slidingly mounted in all the bores of the upper series of sleeves, and means to manually rotate said rods.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 said means comprising suitable heads formed upon the rods to enable them to be manually rotated by a wrench or other tool.

3. In a bread slicing machine, a rectangular blade-carrying frame having tubular upper and lower cross-members and having longitudinal slots formed therein united by side bars, a plurality of supporting rings slidably mounted in said cross-members respectively in series, the innermost ring of each series being rigidly united to its cross-member, each of said rings having formed integral therewith a blade-carrying arm projecting through an adjacent slot, each of said rings having its internal periphery threaded for a portion of its length at one end with fine threads and the remainder of its internal periphery threaded with relatively coarse threads running in the same direction, a corresponding plurality of sleeves each having a narrow section of its periphery at one end threaded with il O fine threads corresponding with the fine threads of the rings and a narrow section of its periphery at the opposite end threaded with coarse threads corresponding to Vthe coarse threads of the rings, and the intermediate portion of said sleeves being reducedv in diameter to form a smooth neck connecting said threaded portions, each of said sleeves having its iine threads threaded into an adjacent ring and its coarse threads threaded into the coarse threads of the next succeeding ring, uniform non-circular bores Aformed in all of the sleeves, a rod corresponding in section to said bores slidably mounted in all the bores of the lower series of .sleeves andV a similar rod sl-idingly mounted in all the bores of the upper series of sleeves, said rods having suitable heads (projecting from one end ofthe tubular supporting members) to enable them to be manually rotated by a Wrench or other suitable tool.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, in a combination With means mounted upon the necks and united to the rings to prevent complete separation of the rings and sleeves.

5. A structure as defined in claim 3 and having washers mounted upon the necks and rigidly united to the adjacent rings to prevent complete separation of the sleeves from their adjacent rings the necks being revolvable in the Washers.

6. A mechanical movement comprising a tubular arm having a longitudinal slot formed therein, a plurality of supporting rings slidabiy mounted in said arm, the innermost ring being rigidly united to said arm, each of said rings' having its internal `periphery threaded for a portion of its. length at one end with ne threads and the remainder of its internal periphery threaded With relatively coarse threads running in the same direction as the ne threads, a corresponding plurality of sleeves each having a section of its periphery at one end threaded with nue threads corresponding with the fine threads of the rings and a section of its periphery at the opposite end threaded With coarse threads corresponding to the coarse threads of the rings, and th`e intermediate portion of said sleeves being reduced in diameter to form a smooth neck connecting said threaded portions, each of said sleeves having its fine threads threaded into the coarse threads of the next succeeding ring, uniform non-circular bores formed in all of the sleeves, a rod corresponding in section to said bores slidably mounted in all the bores of the sleeves, and means to manually rotate said rods.

r1. A mechanical movement comprising a tubular arm having a longitudinal slot formed therein, a plurality of supporting rings slidably mounted in said arm, one intermediate ring being rigidly united to said arm, each of said rings. having its internal periphery threaded for a portion of its length at one end with fine threads and the remainder ofV its internal periphery threaded with relatively coarse threads running in the same direction as the Yiine threads, a corresponding plurality of sleeves each having a section of its` periphery at one end threaded with ne threads corresponding with the iine threads of the rings and a section of its periphery at the opposite end threaded with coarse threads corresponding to the coarse threads of the rings, and the inters `mediate portion of said sleeves being reduced in diameter to form a smooth neck connecting said threaded portions, each of said sleevesI having its line threads threaded into an adjacent ring and its coarse threads threaded into the coarse threads -of the next succeeding ring, uniform non-circular bores formed in all of thefsleeves, a rod corresponding in sectionv to said bores slidably mounted in all the bores. of the sleeves, and means to manually rotate said rods. y .5 8. A mechanical movement comprising a `tubular arm having longitudinal slots formed therein, a plurality of supporting rings slidably mounted in said arm, one intermediate ringbeing rigidly united to said arm, each of said rings havingio its internal periphery threaded for a portion of its length at one end with fine threads and the remainder of its internal periphery threaded with relatively coarse threads running inthe same direction as the fine threads, a correspond- 15 ing plurality of sleeves each having a narrow section of its periphery at one end threaded with iine threads corresponding with the fine threads of the vrings and a narrow section ofits periphery at the opposite end threaded with coarse threads ,20 corresponding to the coarse threads of the rings,

Vand the intermediate portion of said sleeves being reduced in diameter to fo-rm a smooth neck connecting said threaded portions, each of `said sleeves having its fine threads threaded into anrgg adjacent ring and its coarse threads threaded into the coarse threads. of the next succeeding ring, uniform non-circular boresf formed in. all ofthe sleeves, Va rod correspondingin section to said bores slidably mounted in all the bores ofual) the sleeves,and means to `manually rotate said rods.

9. A spacing mechanism for slicing machines comprising a supporting frame, a tubular arm carried thereby having a longitudinal slot formed ,35 therein, a plurality of internally threaded s upporting rings slidably mounted'in said arm Ywith one ring rigidly united thereto, each'ring having a blade-guiding finger united thereto projecting out o-f said slot, a corresponding plurality oio externally threaded sleeves, said rings and sleeves being threaded together in alternation by fine threads at one end of the sleeves and by relatively coarse threads at the opposite- 'end Aof each sleeve, uniform non-circular bores formed 5 in all of the sleeves, a rod corresponding in section to said bores slidably mounted in the bores of all the sleeves., the threads all running in one direction so that rotation of the rod and sleeves in one direction Will gather the rings closer too gether and rotation in the opposite direction will spread them apart uniformly.

l0. A structure as deiined in claim 9, and means for rotating the rod in either direction.

11. A mechanical movement comprising a sup- 55 porting frame, a series of rings mounted therein and non-rotatable but slidable lengthwise thereof, screw-threaded sleeves to actuate the rings longitudinally of the frame each having fine external threads at one end thereof and relatively 60 coarse external threads at the opposite end thereof, the opposite ends of each ring being internally threaded with corresponding ne and coarse threads to cooperate with the threading of the sleeves all of said threads running in the same direction whereby when the sleeves are rotated in one direction the rings will be drawn toward each other and when turned in the opposite direction, the rings Will be carried by the threads away from each other, and means for rotating the sleeves and means to prevent separation of the sleeves and rings.

12. A structure as dened in claim l1 in which the distance traveled by the rings Will be deteru mined by the diierence in pitch of the ne and coarse threads.

13. A structure as defined in claim 11 in which the coarse threads and the fine threads of a given sleeve will cause the rings in which such sleeve is threaded, to approach or separate a distance proportional to the variation in the pitch of said threads.

14. A structure as dened in claim 11 in which the ne threads will cause one end of a given sleeve to screw farther into the ring in which they are threaded, at the same time that the coarse threads are carrying such sleeve outwardly from the ring in which they are threaded.

15. A structure as dened in claim l1, in combinatlon with means for preventing the sleeves from being entirely unscrewed from their adjacent rings.

16. A structure as dened in claim 11 in which the sleeves have an unthreaded portion of reduced diameter extending between the fine and coarse threads, and washers revolvably mounted upon such reduced portion adjacent the fine and coarse threads respectively, said Washers bei-ng V,spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured to the ends of the rings adjacent thereto respectively.

17. A structure as dened in claim 11 in which the sleeves have an unthreaded portion of reduced diameter extending between the fine and coarse threads, and means revolvably mounted upon said reduced portions and rigidly united to the ends of the adjacent rings respectively to prevent complete detachment of the sleeves from the rings.

n 18. A mechanical movement as described in claim 11, the last mentioned means comprising thin washers united to corresponding ends of the rings respectively and embracing necks formed upon the sleeves intermediate the fine and coarse threads, the sleeves being rotatable in said washers.

' 19. In a spacing mechanism for slicing machines, the combination with a supporting frame, of a tubular arm carried thereby, having a longitudinal slot formed therein, a plurality of internally threaded supporting rings slidably mounted in said arm with one ring rigidly united thereto, each ring having a blade-guiding finger united thereto projecting out of said slot, a corresponding plurality of externally threaded sleeves, said rings and sleeves being threaded together in alternation by ne threads at one end of the sleeves and by relatively coarse threads at the oposite end of each sleeve, uniform non-circular bores formed in all of the sleeves, a rod corresponding in section to said bores slidably mounted in the bores of all the sleeves, the threads all running in one direction so that rotation of the rod and sleeves in one direction will gather the rings closer together and rotation in the opposite direction will spread them apart uniformly. 20. In a bread slicing machine of the crossed, endless band type, the combination with a supporting frame, of upper and lower tubular arms spaced above and below the crossing point of the blades and each arm having a longitudinal slot formed therein, a plurality of internally threaded supporting rings slidably mounted in each of said arms with one of such rings united thereto each ring having a blade-guiding finger united thereto projecting out of said slot, a corresponding plurality of externally threaded sleeves, said rings and sleeves being threaded together in alternation by ilne threads at one end of the sleeves and by relatively coarse threads at the opposite end of each sleeve, uniform non-circular bores formed in all of the sleeves, a rod corresponding in section to said bores slidably mounted in the bores of all the sleeves, the threads all running in one direction so that rotation of the rod and sleeves in one direction will gather the rings closer together and rotation in the opposite direction will spread them apart uniformly, said slotted fingers being arranged in vertical pairs and each pair engaging, twisting and guiding a single cutting course of a single blade respectively HARRY J. CRINER. 

